BBC ON THIS DAY | 24 | 2001: Mandelson resigns - again About This Site | Text Only 2001: Mandelson resigns - again The Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Mandelson, has resigned from the cabinet over a row concerning a passport application from an Indian billionaire. It is the second time Mr Mandelson has been forced to leave the cabinet in disgrace since Labour came to power in 1997. Mr Mandelson, a close confidant and friend of the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said he did not accept he had acted "improperly in any way" over the passport affair. Earlier, Mr Blair had summoned him to Downing Street to "establish the facts" of his involvement. Pressure Mr Mandelson has come under increasing pressure over the issue since the weekend. He has strongly denied claims he pulled strings to help Srichand Hinduja secure a UK passport in return for a �1 million sponsorship deal for the Millennium Dome while Mr Mandelson was in charge of that project. The Hinduja family is one of the most influential in the world and runs the transnational Hinduja group, a company with assets amounting to around $8 billion.

Since 1990 Srichand Hinduja and his brothers Gopichand and Prakash have been defending themselves against criminal allegations in a long-running corruption case involving an arms deal between Swiss company Bofors and the Indian government. Srichand Hinduja, who with his brother Gopichand has lived in London since 1979, had his first application for UK citizenship refused in 1990. Just after paying the sponsorship money, he asked Mr Mandelson whether he could apply again. The passport was granted soon afterwards. U-turn This week has seen a damaging about-turn by Mr Mandelson's office over a telephone call to the Home Office about Mr Hinduja's case. On Monday Downing Street said Mr Mandelson's private secretary made the call. But on Tuesday the prime minister's spokesman admitted Mr Mandelson himself had phoned to discuss the application. Mr Mandelson insisted there was "no wink or nudge" involved in what he called an "innocent inquiry" made on Mr Hinduja's behalf. His resignation has sent shockwaves around Westminster, coming as it does only months before the next general election.

Although the passport row was regarded as damaging there were few who believed it would lead to Mr Mandelson being forced out of the cabinet so abruptly and for an unprecedented second time. Mr Mandelson was first forced to leave the cabinet in 1998 over an undisclosed loan of �373,000 from his then fellow minister Geoffrey Robinson to buy a house in London. New Blair link to Hinduja scandal | Politics | The Guardian New Blair link to Hinduja scandal Saturday 14 July 2001 19.50 EDT First published on Saturday 14 July 2001 19.50 EDT Close This article is 15 years old The spectre of the cash-for-passports scandal cast a fresh cloud over Tony Blair's administration last night as a new book revealed details of Downing Street's involvement in the Hinduja affair which led to the resignation of Peter Mandelson. According to the updated paperback version of Andrew Rawnsley's acclaimed bestseller Servants of the People, which has been hailed as the most authoritative account of Blair's years in power, the Prime Minister's chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, instructed Mandelson to contact the Hindujas over donating money to the Dome.

The book, from which exclusive extracts are published in today's Observer, reveals that Powell wrote an official minute to Mandelson saying that he should follow up the inquiry 'without delay'. It says Mandelson's involvement with the brothers over the Dome was 'initiated' by No 10. The brothers were facing allegations of corruption charges over an arms scandal in India at the time. Powell's secret memo was never submitted to the Hammond inquiry, the official independent inquiry set up to investigate the affair, which cleared the Government of acting improperly. Downing Street has always tried to distance itself from involvement with the millionaire Hinduja brothers, who were offering sponsorship of the Dome at the same time as the Government was dealing with a passport application from one of the brothers, S.P. Hinduja. MPs last night called for a reopening of the Hammond inquiry. 'The Government has always insisted that the Hammond inquiry has closed the matter,' said Andrew Lansley, the Shadow Cabinet Office Minister.

'But as every new piece of evidence comes out about the links between the Prime Minister and his office and the Hindujas, it is clear that more questions should be answered.' Lansley said that the Government should now publish all the correspondence concerning the controversial brothers, and added that he would be tabling parliamentary questions to get the memo released. 'According to Mandelson's allies, it was actually No 10 that first initiated the involvement of the Hindujas in the sponsorship of the Dome,' the book by Rawnsley, The Observer's chief political commentator, says. 'Supporters of Mandelson say that Powell sent him an official minute suggesting to the then Dome Minister that they were offering money. 'Written in Powell's typically blunt style, the minute informed Mandelson that S.P. Hinduja had approached the Prime Minister with an offer to donate to the Dome. Peter Mandelson and the Hindujas | Global | The Guardian browse all sections close Peter Mandelson and the Hindujas Peter Mandelson, who resigned from the cabinet five weeks ago, has been cleared of wrongdoing in a report by Sir Anthony Hammond, published this morning.

But questions still remain about the former Northern Ireland secretary's dealings with the wealthy Hinduja brothers, and Downing Street has made it clear that he will not return to government. Derek Brown and Julian Glover explain Close What does the Hammond report say? The former treasury solicitor says he has no reason to doubt Mr Mandelson's honesty, and that he did not lie to Downing Street. What was he supposed to have done? While he was minister in charge of the Millennium Dome, Srichand Hinduja donated £1m to the so-called faith zone. Subsequently he applied for, and was granted with unusual speed, a British passport. So did his brother Gopichand. Mandelson was accused of lobbying the home office on behalf of the Hindujas, but insists he only made a telephone call to a junior minister to ask how the applications were proceeding. Why did a simple phone call cause such a stink? Because Mandelson did not clearly explain it, either to culture secretary Chris Smith (who had to answer a parliamentary question on the subject) or to the prime minister's office.

The latter omission greatly irked Alistair Campbell, the Number Ten mouthpiece, who was obliged to make an embarrassing admission that he had wrongly briefed lobby correspondents. Does the Hammond report mean that Mandelson will get a third go in the cabinet? Absolutely not. After being forced to resign twice - the first time after the revelation that he had taken an undeclared £374,000 home loan from a cabinet colleague - there will be no third time lucky for Mandelson. He is cordially disliked by most of the parliamentary Labour party, and indeed by most of his former cabinet colleagues. Downing Street has made it clear that the prime minister, once regarded as Mandelson's best political pal, will not now touch him with a barge pole. Did the Hinduja brothers do anything wrong? Not a thing. They are embroiled in a long-running arms-dealing corruption scandal in their native India, but that's another matter entirely.

CNN.com - I fight on, says Mandelson - January 25, 2001 I fight on, says Mandelson Mandelson intends to remain the MP for Hartlepool HARTLEPOOL, England -- Disgraced former Cabinet minister Peter Mandelson is not quitting politics completely and is to take his place on the Labour backbenches, he has announced. The former Northern Ireland Secretary told the Hartlepool Mail -- the local newspaper that covers his north east England constituency -- that he intends to concentrate on being the town's Member of Parliament. Mandelson, 47, speaking on Thursday, a day after he resigned his government position, said: "I'm going to concentrate on being a good constituency MP. I intend to fight for Hartlepool and its people." Mandelson, who had to travel to Belfast after his resignation to clear his belongings out of the government's official residence, said: "I've just had enough. Not the job.

Just all of the other stuff that goes with it." Meanwhile, the Indian business tycoon at the centre of the passport row which led to his resignation has denied that he sought political favours, despite the ex-minister contacting a Home Office colleague in 1998 about a passport application by Srichand Hinduja. Hinduja said he had made his British passport application as any citizen of any country would do. But Mandelson's personal intervention in the application was made at a time when he was responsible for the Millennium Dome project in London and the Hinduja Foundation, set up by Hinduja and his two brothers, provided the attraction with �1 million sponsorship. ALSO All three brothers are in India where they face questions over corruption allegations. Although Mandelson denied opponents' accusations that he pulled strings for Hinduja, his failure to clarify his involvement, even to Prime Minister Tony Blair, sealed his fate. Speaking from New Delhi, Hinduja maintained that there was no connection between the Dome donation and his successful passport application -- one year after his previous application for British citizenship had been turned down. "I have not asked anybody to give any favour to me, whether it is Peter Mandelson or anybody else," he said.

Blair, meanwhile, has ordered a review of the citizenship application to ensure it was above board. His spokesman confirmed the inquiry by Sir Anthony Hammond QC would look at all the circumstance surrounding the naturalisation application by Hinduja. Srichand Hinduja (right) maintains that no favours were asked As Mandelson reaffirmed his commitment to his constituents, his successor in the Northern Ireland post was settling into his role. John Reid, the former Scottish Secretary, was holding key meetings at a crucial time for the peace process. Reid, a Roman Catholic, was expected to meet Royal Ulster Constabulary Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan on his first official visit to Belfast. He acknowledged the Good Friday Agreement was at a critical stage and that the main issues of IRA decommissioning, policing reform and demilitarisation were at the fore. He said: "The next few weeks provide an enormous opportunity to put the Agreement and the future of Northern Ireland on a more stable basis." Reuters contributed to this report. RELATED STORIES: Peter Mandelson - The Full Wiki The Full Wiki More info on Peter Mandelson Wikis Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article!

This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles . Related top topics Top rankings for Peter Mandelson 22nd 3 October 2008 – 5 June 2009 Prime Minister 22 November 2004 – 3 October 2008 President 11 October 1999 – 24 January 2001 Prime Minister 27 July 1998 – 23 December 1998 Prime Minister (President of the Board of Trade) Succeeded by 2 May 1997 – 27 July 1998 Prime Minister 9 April 1992 – 23 July 2004 Preceded by Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, PC (born 21 October 1953) is a British Labour politician who is the current First Secretary of State , Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills , President of the Board of Trade and Lord President of the Council .

Together with Tony Blair and Gordon Brown he was a key architect in the rebranding of the Labour Party as " New Labour " and its subsequent landslide victory in the 1997 general election . [1] Mandelson served as Member of Parliament for Hartlepool for twelve years (from 1992), a seat he vacated in order to become a European Commissioner (2004–2008). He twice resigned from Tony Blair's government while holding Cabinet positions. After his second resignation he served as the European Commissioner for Trade for almost four years. He rejoined the government when he was made a life peer by Gordon Brown and took his seat in the House of Lords on 13 October 2008. [2] Contents 9 Offices held Early life Mandelson was born in London in 1953, where his father was the advertising manager at The Jewish Chronicle . On his mother's side, he is the grandson of Herbert Morrison , the London County Council leader and Labour cabinet minister. He was educated at Hendon County Grammar School .

He read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at St Catherine's College, Oxford (1973-1976) and, in the late 1970s became director of the British Youth Council . As BYC director, he was a delegate in 1978 to the Soviet -organised World Festival of Youth and Students in Havana , Cuba , with Arthur Scargill and several future Labour cabinet colleagues. [3] [4] He was elected to Lambeth Borough Council in September 1979, but retired in 1982, disillusioned with the state of Labour politics. [5] Media and public relations He worked as a television producer at London Weekend Television on Weekend World , before being appointed as the Labour Party's Director of Communications in 1985. Mandelson was able to secure close friendships within the Labour Party due to uncle Alexander Butler who had worked alongside many important Labour politicians during the 1960s.

In this role he was one of the first people in Britain to whom the term " spin doctor " was applied; in relation to this he has been referred to as the "Prince of Darkness" [6] [7] (originally coined in the satirical magazine Private Eye ). In 1986 he ran the campaign at the Fulham by-election that saw Labour defeat the Conservative Party . He is author (with Roger Liddle ) of The Blair Revolution (1996). More recently, he contributed to the book The City in Europe and the World (2005). Member of Parliament He ceased being a Labour Party official in 1990, when he was selected as Labour candidate for the safe seat of Hartlepool . He was elected to the House of Commons at the 1992 general election . [8] Shadow cabinet He made several speeches outlining his strong support for the European Union . He was close to two Shadow Cabinet members, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, each regarded as potential future leaders, though he was sidelined during the brief period when John Smith led the party.

After Smith's sudden death in 1994, Mandelson chose to back Blair for the leadership believing him to be a superior communicator to Brown [9] and played a leading role in the leadership campaign. This created antagonism between Mandelson and Brown, though they are now considered allies in the Labour Party. [10] Mandelson became a close ally and trusted adviser to Blair. He was Labour's election Campaign Director for the 1997 general election , which Labour won by a landslide. [11] Government minister He was appointed as a Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office , where his job was to co-ordinate within government. A few months later, he also acquired responsibility for the Millennium Dome , after Blair decided to go ahead with the project despite the opposition of most of the Cabinet (including the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who had been running it). Jennie Page , the Dome Chief Executive was abruptly sacked after a farcical opening night. She gave evidence to a House of Commons Select Committee for Culture and Heritage in June 2000.

In what was seen as a reference to the close interest in the Dome from Mandelson, known at the time as so-called "Dome Secretary", and his successor Lord Falconer of Thoroton , Ms Page told the committee: "I made several attempts to persuade ministers that standing back from the Dome would be good for them as well as good for the Dome". [12] In July 1998, he joined the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry . He launched the Millennium Bug And Electronic Commerce Bill and a Competitiveness White Paper, which he described, as 'bold, far reaching and absolutely necessary'. He also appointed a ' Net czar' to lead the UK in what he termed the "new industrial revolution". In 1998 he was appointed a Privy Councillor . First resignation Mandelson had bought a home in Notting Hill in 1996 with the assistance of an interest-free loan of £373,000 from Geoffrey Robinson , a millionaire Labour MP who was also in the Government, but was subject to an inquiry into his business dealings by Mandelson's department. [13] Mandelson contended that he had deliberately not taken part in any decisions relating to Robinson.

He should have declared the loan in the Register of Members' Interests and he resigned on 23 December 1998. [13] Mandelson had also not declared the loan to his building society (the Britannia ) although they decided not to take any action, with the CEO stating "I am satisfied that the information given to us at the time of the mortgage application was accurate." [14] Mandelson initially thought he could weather the press storm, but had to resign when it became clear that the Prime Minister thought nothing else would clear the air. [15] On 16 October 2000 it was reported that Geoffrey Robinson, the Labour MP, "accused Peter Mandelson of lying to the Commons about the home loan affair that cost both of them their Government jobs." [16] [17] He was out of the Cabinet for ten months. In October 1999, he was appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland , replacing Mo Mowlam .

In his very first speech in the post he mistakenly referred to himself as the "Secretary of State for Ireland." [18] During his tenure he oversaw the creation of the devolved legislative assembly and power-sharing executive , and reform of the police service . Second resignation On 24 January 2001 Mandelson resigned from the Government for a second time following accusations of using his position to influence a passport application. [19] [20] He had contacted Home Office minister Mike O'Brien on behalf of Srichand Hinduja , an Indian businessman who was seeking British citizenship, and whose family firm was to become the main sponsor of the "Faith Zone" in the Millennium Dome . At the time, Hinduja and his brothers were under investigation by the Indian government for alleged involvement in the Bofors scandal . Mandelson insisted he had done nothing wrong and was exonerated by an independent inquiry by Sir Anthony Hammond which concluded that neither Mandelson nor anyone else had acted improperly. The front page headline in The Independent read in part "Passport to Oblivion".

[21] At the 2001 general election , Mandelson was challenged by Arthur Scargill of the Socialist Labour Party and by John Booth, a former Labour Party press officer standing as "Genuine Labour", [22] but Mandelson was re-elected with a large majority. [23] This prompted him to make an exuberant acceptance speech, which was televised live, in which he declared that "I'm a fighter, not a quitter" [1] and referred to his "inner steel". Despite Labour success in the June 2001 general election a third appointment to the Cabinet did not happen and he indicated his interest in becoming the United Kingdom's European Commissioner when the new Commission was established in 2004. Both of Britain's Commissioners, Neil Kinnock and Chris Patten , were due to stand down. Appointment as a Commissioner would require his resignation from Parliament and therefore a by-election in his Hartlepool constituency. His appointment was announced in the summer and on 8 September 2004 Mandelson resigned his seat through appointment as Steward of the Manor of Northstead .

[24] [25] Labour won the subsequent Hartlepool by-election with a majority of more than 2,000. [26] During the Parliamentary expenses scandal of 2009 the Daily Telegraph raised questions about the timing of Mandelson’s second home allowance claim, dating from 2004, saying, "Lord Mandelson billed the taxpayer for almost £3,000 of work on his constituency home in Hartlepool less than a week after announcing his decision to stand down as an MP." Lord Mandelson said in a statement, "The work done was necessary maintenance. All claims made were reasonable and submitted consistent with Parliamentary rules." [27] European Commission On 22 November 2004, Mandelson became Britain's European Commissioner for Trade . On 22 April 2005, The Times revealed that Mandelson had spent the previous New Year's Eve on the yacht of Paul Allen , the co-founder of Microsoft , which was at the centre of a major EU investigation, although it did not allege impropriety.

[28] During the summer of 2008, Mandelson had a widely publicised disagreement with Nicolas Sarkozy , the President of France . [1] Sarkozy accused him of trying to sell out European farmers and appeared to blame his handling of the Doha round of trade talks for the "no" vote in the Irish referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon . Mandelson said his position at world trade talks has been undermined and told the BBC he did not start the row but: "I stood up for myself, I'm not to be bullied." He said he believed the row was over but renewed his warnings on protectionism . [1] In 2008, melamine added to milk in China caused kidney stones and other ailments in thousands of Chinese children, and killed at least six. To show his confidence in Chinese dairy products, Mandelson drank a glass of Chinese yoghurt in front of reporters. The following week, he was hospitalised for a kidney stone; despite the apparent irony, the events were probably unconnected.

[29] [30] In October 2008, Mandelson was reported to have maintained private contacts over several years with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska , most recently on holiday in August 2008 on Deripaska's yacht at Taverna Agni on the Greek island of Corfu . [31] News of the contacts sparked criticism because, as European Union trade commissioner, Mandelson had been responsible for two decisions to cut aluminium tariffs that had benefited Deripaska's United Company RusAl . [32] Mandelson denied that there had been a conflict of interest and insisted that he had never discussed aluminium tariffs with Deripaska. [33] On 26 October 2008, the Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague claimed the "whole country" wanted "transparency" about Mandelson's previous meetings with Deripaska. In response, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Mandelson's dealings with Deripaska had been "found to be above board". [34] Mandelson said that meeting business figures from "across the range" in emerging economies was part of his brief as EU trade commissioner.

[35] On 29 October 2008, while Mandelson was on a ministerial visit to Moscow, [36] it was alleged in the British press that, head of security at Deripaska's company Basic Element Valery Pechenkin had organised a swift entry visa for Mandelson when he turned up in Moscow to visit Deripaska in 2005. [37] In October 2008 he left his post as Trade Commissioner to return to UK politics. As a former EU commissioner, Lord Mandelson is entitled to a £31,000 pension when he reaches the age of 65 years. This, however, is contingent on a "duty of loyalty to the Communities" which applies also after his term in office. The Taxpayers' Alliance , which uncovered the potential threat to his pension, demanded that he should declare it as a conflict of interest , and either forgo his EU pension payments or resign as a minister.

"When one considers that his new ministerial post deals specifically with Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform – all areas that are intimately involved with EU legislation, regulation and policy –" the group said, "the conflict of interest is even more stark." However, Mandelson's spokesperson denied there is a conflict of interest: "He has always had a clear view of British interests and how they are best secured by our EU membership". [38] Return to UK government Life Peerage On 3 October 2008, as part of Gordon Brown 's cabinet reshuffle, it was announced amid some controversy [39] [40] that Mandelson would return to government in the re-drawn post of Business Secretary , and would be made a life peer , entitling him to a seat in the House of Lords . [41] [42] On 13 October 2008 he was created Baron Mandelson, of Foy in the County of Herefordshire and of Hartlepool in the County of Durham , [43] [44] and took his seat in the House of Lords the same day. Since returning to office, Lord Mandelson has supported the planned Heathrow Airport expansion.

[45] On 6 March 2009, the environmental protester Leila Deen of anti-aviation group Plane Stupid approached him outside a summit on the government's Low Carbon Industrial Strategy and threw a cup of green custard in his face, in protest over his support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport . The protester was cautioned on 9 April for causing "harassment, alarm or distress". [46] [47] First Secretary of State In a cabinet reshuffle on 5 June 2009, Lord Mandelson was appointed to the honorific office of First Secretary of State , and to the position of Lord President of the Council . [48] It was also announced that his powers as Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills were to be enhanced, and that he would continue as President of the Board of Trade . [48] [49] Mandelson is a member of 35 of the 43 Cabinet committees and subcommittees. [50] An opinion poll conducted by the centre-left think tank Compass found that Mandelson is proving to be more popular with rank and file party members than Deputy Party Leader Harriet Harman .

This was claimed to be surprising due to Mandelson's previously-strained relationship with grassroots members, set against Harman's record of success winning grassroots votes in her election as Deputy. It was also seen to be prophetic, and to tie-in with Tony Blair 's quote that his "mission would be completed when the Labour Party learned to love [Peter] Mandelson". [51] In August 2009, The Independent reported that unnamed Whitehall sources had said Mandelson was persuaded of the need to try to reduce illegal file-sharing after an intensive lobbying campaign from influential foreign people in the entertainment and banking industries. [52] The Independent also reported that this included a meeting with DreamWorks co-founder David Geffen at the Rothschild family villa on the Greek island of Corfu. Lord Mandelson's spokesperson said that there had been no discussion of internet piracy during the Corfu dinner. [53] The Times reported after the Corfu meeting that an unnamed Whitehall source had said, "Until the past week Mandelson had shown little personal interest in the Digital Britain agenda.

According to The Times, their unnamed source further speculated that apparently Mandelson returned from holiday and effectively issued this edict that the regulation needs to be tougher." [54] Mandelson denied that the two events were linked. [53] Personal life In October 1998, during his first period in the Cabinet, Mandelson was the centre of media attention when Matthew Parris (openly gay former MP and then Parliamentary sketch writer of The Times ) mentioned during a live interview on Newsnight , in the wake of the resignation of Ron Davies , that "Peter Mandelson is certainly gay". [55] In 2000, Peter Mandelson publicly recognised his long term relationship with his long-time partner, Reinaldo Avila da Silva by allowing photographs of them together. [56] Mandelson also acquired the nickname "Mandy" by reference to his surname. [57] Tam Dalyell , while Father of the House of Commons, claimed Mandelson formed part of Blair's 'Jewish cabal' in May 2003.

In response Mandelson said: "Apart from the fact that I am not actually Jewish , I wear my father's parentage with pride." [58] Mandelson was, until 8 October 2008, the president of Central School of Speech and Drama . [59] He was replaced in this unremunerated post by playwright Harold Pinter , who died some weeks later. In 1999 and 2009, Mandelson was an invited guest of the Bilderberg Group and attended the annual conferences. [60] [61] References ^ "Our man at Bilderberg" . The Guardian. 19 May 2009. . Retrieved 20 August 2009. "Mandelson's office has confirmed his attendance at this year's meeting: "Yes, Lord Mandelson attended Bilberberg.

He found it a valuable conference."" Further reading Jones, Nicholas (2000): Sultans of Spin: The Media and the New Labour Government Orion Books, ISBN 0-75282-769-3 Macintyre, Donald (1999): Mandelson: The Biography Harper Collins, ISBN 0-00-255943-9 Mandelson, Peter (2002): The Blair Revolution Revisited Politico's, ISBN 1-84275-039-9 Rawnsley, Andrew (2001): Servants of the People: The Inside Story of New Labour Penguin Books, ISBN 0-140-27850-8 Routledge, Paul (1999): Mandy: The Unauthorised Biography of Peter Mandelson Simon & Schuster, ISBN 0-684-85175-X Seldon, Anthony (2005): Blair The Free Press, ISBN 0-7432-3212-7 External links Peter Benjamin Mandelson (born 21 October 1953), present Commissioner of the European Union for Trade issues.

Sourced Before this campaign started, it was said that I was facing political oblivion, my career in tatters, apparently never to be part of political life again. Well they underestimated Hartlepool and they underestimated me, because I am a fighter and not a quitter! My political opponents can have their pound of flesh, and they do, but they will not eat into of my beliefs, what I stand for and have done in politics. That is the inner steel in me. Jason Beattie, Jon Hibbs, "Triumphant Mandelson hails new Labour victory", Scotsman, 8 June 2001, p. 5. Acceptance speech after re-election as MP for Hartlepool in the 2001 General Election. No serious challenge on the Left exists to Third Way thinking anywhere in the world. This is hardly surprising as globalisation punishes hard any country that tries to run its economy by ignoring the realities of the market or prudent public finances. In this strictly narrow sense, and in the urgent need to remove rigidities and incorporate flexibility in capital, product and labour markets, we are all "Thatcherite" now.

"There's plenty of life in the 'new' Third Way yet", The Times, 10 June 2002, p. 16. External links Hague puts pressure on Vaz over passports - Telegraph Hague puts pressure on Vaz over passports By George Jones, Political Editor 12:00AM GMT 26 Jan 2001 THE Tories kept up the pressure on Tony Blair over the "passports for favours" scandal last night, demanding to know whether a second minister, Keith Vaz, was linked to the Hinduja brothers. Keith Vaz: has admitted writing letters in October 1997 on behalf of the Hindujas to both Mr Mandelson and Mr Blair William Hague said that "vital issues" surrounding Peter Mandelson's resignation as Northern Ireland Secretary remained unresolved. The Conservatives were pressing for full disclosure of events surrounding the granting of naturalisation to Srichand Hinduja in record time after Mr Mandelson's intervention. Tory attempts to keep the spotlight on the Government's role in the award of the passport came as Mr Mandelson said that he intended to remain an MP and fight the general election in his Hartlepool constituency.

Tony Blair sought to draw a line under the affair, speaking about Mr Mandelson's resignation for less than a minute at yesterday's weekly Cabinet meeting. Mr Blair told ministers that the past few days had been "obviously personally very difficult for Peter", but said the public would judge the Government on its agenda on the big issues. Related Articles Mandelson faces calls for inquiry on passports 22 Jan 2001 Alastair Campbell, Mr Blair's official spokesman, underlined the Government's desire to move on. "Yesterday was yesterday, today is today." But he made clear that Mr Mandelson would no longer play any significant role in the election campaign. Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, emphasised the Cabinet's view that Mr Mandelson should take a back seat, suggesting that his role in the campaign would be better limited to basic tasks such as knocking on doors and delivering leaflets. Mr Hoon said: "I don't think it would be acceptable for him to be seen to be involved in the direction of a general election campaign." Mr Hague said the Tories would table questions on whether other ministers were involved in the Hinduja case.

He said Parliament should be told whether Mr Vaz, minister for Europe, reportedly wrote to both Mr Blair and Mr Mandelson about the Hinduja brothers' applications in October 1997. GP Hinduja was granted a passport in the November, but Srichand resubmitted his application in October 1998 - four months after Mr Mandelson spoke to a Home Office minister about whether it would be considered. Mr Campbell said that Mr Vaz - Left-wing rebel turned leadership moderate - would "undoubtedly" be investigated over his role in the passport affair. Mr Vaz has admitted writing letters in October 1997 on behalf of the Hindujas to both Mr Mandelson and Mr Blair, while refusing to say what the letters were about. Mr Campbell said: "There is nothing wrong with members of Parliament or ministers making representations. What is wrong is if undue influence is brought to bear. Keith Vaz is the first Asian member of the Government. He's obviously got links with the Asian community.

He's an important point of contact for the Asian community." Mr Vaz refused to make any statement but a Foreign Office spokesman said he was "delighted" that there was to be an official inquiry, which would look at all the Home Office files on the affair. Downing Street confirmed that the inquiry by Sir Anthony Hammond, QC, into the application for naturalisation by Srichand Hinduja, would cover the representations made by Mr Vaz to the Home Office about the case. Officials said that Mr Blair wanted the inquiry completed "within weeks rather than months". Mr Hague claimed that the events surrounding Mr Mandelson's resignation epitomised New Labour: it had a total disregard for standards of truth and honesty in public life and "sucked up to the rich and famous". Mr Mandelson was at his home in Notting Hill, west London, yesterday. He and his boyfriend, Reinaldo da Silva, sent out for a take-away pizza. The delivery man, Reza Babaadi, disclosed that it was a "Mermaid Queen" - tuna, anchovies, cheese, tomato and capers.

British minister quits, Bofors woes increase for Hindujas brothers : NATION - India Today 5022001 A + A - A dip in the Ganga during the Mahakumbha is said to be the ultimate act of self-purification. Which is why lakhs of Hindus have flocked to Allahabad over the past fortnight. Last Wednesday's pilgrims included the brothers Hinduja - Srichand, Gopichand and Prakashchand - now on an enforced and extended visit to India, courtesy the CBI and Special Judge Ajit Bharihoke hearing the interminable Bofors kickbacks case. For one of the wealthiest British Asian families, the Ganga dip was probably resonant with expectations. Not only have the brothers been barred from leaving India without the court's permission, they have been questioned by the CBI as to why the money remitted by Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors found its way into bank accounts controlled by the family. But it's not merely hiccups in their land of origin that is worrying the Hindujas. A second front has been opened in London.

They have been linked to a controversy that has led to the resignation of cabinet minister Peter Mandelson, one of the closest associates of Prime Minister Tony Blair. Worse, it has nudged Blair into ordering an inquiry by former Treasury solicitor Sir Anthony Hammond into whether or not the issue of a British passport to Srichand in September 1999 "was properly dealt with in all respects". The inquiry follows dark hints of a link between the 1 million pounds (Rs 7 crore) Hinduja donation to the ailing Millennium Dome project of the Labour Government and a British passport for Srichand. By the admission of a Hinduja spokesman, "In the summer of 1998 Mr Hinduja asked Mr Mandelson informally if an application by him to the Home Office for British nationality would be considered." The query had a purpose: Srichand's passport application had been turned down in 1990. Mandelson said he telephoned Home Office Minister Mike O'Brien in June 1998 and "an innocent inquiry was made in a two-minute phone conversation". The Hindujas were told that Srichand was eligible to apply.

According to Blair's official spokesman, when the Hindujas also "asked Peter to endorse or support any application, he refused". British minister Peter Mandelson The application was eventually supported by former prime minister Sir Edward Heath, former Liberal Democratic Party leader Sir Paddy Ashdown and former cabinet minister Jack Cunningham - a testimony to the political clout of the Hindujas. Where Mandelson erred was in not admitting to the telephone call to O'Brien in the first place. This led to Parliament being misled. When the truth emerged, Mandelson put in his papers. But it's not Mandelson alone who has been forced to drop out of political life. If the buzz in London is anything to go by, the Hindujas may find that many of London's rich and famous will be keeping a discreet distance from them. There was a time when an invitation from the Hindujas was an irresistible calling. If you turned up you would inevitably be confronted with wall-to-wall celebrity power. Since moving base from Teheran to London in 1979, the Hindujas have avidly wooed Britain's political elite. They once courted the Conservatives and became close to Margaret Thatcher and John Major.

In 1999, they hosted Blair and wife Cherie to a lavish Diwali celebration at London's Alexandra Palace. Says an MP: "Wherever the Hindujas went, they had a damn camera in tow. It will be very damaging if some of those photos now appear in the press." That's a squeamishness the Hindujas have to live with when they return. To be "outed" as a Hinduja friend has become dangerous. The media have already turned on Minister for Europe Keith Vaz who has admitted to writing letters on behalf of the Hindujas to both Mandelson and Blair in 1997. "Even more astonishingly," wrote the Daily Mail carpingly, "they were actually drafted by them for his signature. He has refused to say what these letters were about." For the media it's an open season on the Hindujas. News bulletins have been bringing up archive pictures of the brothers with sinister music in the background. Eerie lighting illuminates the faces of the men who are just referred to as "the brothers".

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Question: Which brothers were linked with the resignation of Peter Mandelson in 2001?
Answer: HINDUJA